Page 24 of Pretty When It Burns (When The Lights Go Down #1)

Chapter twenty-one

"Let It Go" - James Bay

Mia

Iwatch as the ambulance lights flash and the vehicle begins its descent.

I look at the keys that Grayson put in my hand, at a loss for what I’m going to say when I call Johanna.

I know my mother will be worried too, but she and our unfinished conversation are the least of my worries.

I manage to slip back into the house to grab my abandoned shoes, unnoticed, before heading back to the car.

I press the ignition button and the car rumbles to life, my hands shaking as I fumble through my phone to find Johanna’s contact.

“Mia?” Her voice—unassuming and light—fills the space as I begin the drive to Maine Medical Center in Portland.

“Hey,” I say, trying to keep my voice from shaking. “You need to get to Cumberland as soon as possible. I don’t know all the details, but Grayson is on the way to the hospital with your mom. It doesn’t look good.”

“Yeah, okay,” she replies softly, her brightness dimming almost instantly. “I’ll be there as soon as I can. Thank you, Mia—for calling.”

We hang up and I release a pent-up breath.

Fuck.

Get it together, Mia. He needs you. They both do.

A little over fifteen minutes later, I pull into the parking lot of the hospital.

Gathering my things out of the passenger seat, I start to prepare myself for the many possibilities of what I could be walking into.

I coach myself through a few deep breaths as I make the trek towards the entrance.

When I find Grayson in the waiting room, his head is in his hands. He looks completely defeated.

“Hey,” I murmur, carefully placing my hand on his back as I sit down beside him. “Have they been out to give you an update yet?”

He shakes his head as he looks up to face me, his eyes bloodshot. I’ve never seen him like this before. I’m used to confident, untouchable Grayson, not this broken shell of him. I can’t think of a single thing I can do or say to make this situation any better for him, and it’s killing me.

“All I know is that they’re doing a procedure to stop the bleeding,” he sighs, his voice sounding hollow. “They seemed optimistic that she’ll make it through this, but it won’t be long now.”

My phone pings in my purse.

Fuck.

I forgot to silence it before I came inside.

“Sorry,” I say hastily, fumbling to get it out of my bag.

Rylee Jackson

You need to see this.

I click the attachment and the screen fills with a photo of Grayson and me caught mid-embrace, standing on our street beside the ambulance as Angela is being loaded inside of it. Rage ignites inside of me all over again. I scroll and begin to read the article that accompanies the photo.

Catastrophically Charismatic’s Grayson Harris (@catastrophically_gray) returns home to Cumberland, Maine—mother Angela Harris hospitalized.

Since the release of last week’s article, fans of the up and coming alt-rock band Catastrophically Charismatic have been wondering whether or not front man, Grayson Harris, will return to his hometown of Cumberland, Maine to say his goodbyes to his mother, who is suffering complications from terminal pancreatic cancer.

An anonymous source informed us that Harris did, in fact, return home.

Earlier today, Harris’ mother, Angela, was hospitalized with her son accompanying her in the ambulance. An unidentified female stands with Harris, appearing to comfort him, and fans were quick to notice that this person wasn’t Harris’ wife, singer Lily Vance (@lilysdilemma).

This story is still developing.

What is the current condition of Angela Harris? Are Grayson and Lily splitsville? Who’s the new girl? Keep checking back for updates.

Fuck me.

This is the last thing Grayson needs.

A little less than six hours after our arrival at the hospital, Johanna sweeps through the doors of the waiting room with Brandon following closely behind her.

I don’t have time to ask why Brandon’s with her before Grayson stands and immediately goes to hug her.

They’re truly the only two people who understand what the other is going through, living the same nightmare that neither one can wake up from.

“Is she gone?” Johanna asks weakly, her voice muffled by the embrace she shares with her brother.

“We haven’t heard anything yet,” I tell her.

As if on cue, a doctor enters the waiting room and calls for Grayson and Johanna. Brandon and I stay behind while the siblings go talk with him. I haven’t prayed in years, but at this moment, I’m praying for Grayson to have at least one more moment with his mom.

“It was nice of you to come with Johanna,” I say, turning to Brandon after they’d gone.

We haven’t had a chance to talk since he called to tell me that Grayson was coming to get me in Dallas.

“It didn’t seem like something she should do alone,” he replies. “I know you know the feeling.” I do understand.

I don’t want to leave Grayson to go through this alone either, and through this whole situation, Brandon has understood better than anyone in my life the need to stand by the person you love.

It seems he’s never completely buried the love he had for Johanna, the same as I hadn’t with my feelings for Grayson.

I can’t fault him for that.

“They’re going to get through this, right?” I ask, voice soft.

Brandon looks down at his hands.

“I hope so,” he says. “I really fucking hope so.”